Durban — Community Policing Forum (CPF) members have called on the public sector to intervene on behalf of their well-being, resources and financial assistance as their protect their communities.
The members make it their life’s mission to fight crime in their communities. They work with police by informing them of crimes, they also accompany residents to taxi stops in the mornings and evenings as they travel to work or school. All this while not earning any money.
Snenhlanhla Mhone, who is a neighbourhood watch member in KwaMashu, said they needed protective equipment to assist them carry out their duties.
“We do not earn any money from this but need assistance with protective clothing, raincoats, and safety boots,” Mhone said.
Sizwe Goge, who is a CPF chairperson in Clermont and KwaDabeka, said they needed resources such as torches, boots and reflector belts and jackets. He said they also needed airtime for instances when they informed the police of crime.
“We have families that watch us leave every day and expect us to provide basic essentials for them. As much as we are willingly working for our communities, we call on the government to prioritise a stipend for our members to feed their families or buy essentials,” he said.
He said they also needed transport in the evenings when they attended their meetings.
“We are often targets because we fight crime in our communities and when we leave late in the evening to go home, we only pray for a safe return home as many of our communities are dangerous and the criminals do not want to see us working against their criminal activities.”
He urged the public and private sector to intervene.
“Even local businesses benefit from our service. They often call us when there has been a break-in at their businesses or when they feel unsafe, and we assist as part of our duty and commitment to protect the community. However, they do not invest in the CPF.
“We urge business owners to lend a hand in assisting the CPF,” Goge said.
He said when the IFP was campaigning during the elections, KZN Premier Thami Ntuli said he would assist the CPF and he was hopeful that Ntuli would make a difference for CPF members.
Goge added that the three neighbourhood watch members who were shot and killed last month in Inanda, north of Durban, would be remembered for their bravery in fighting crime.
Two men who were part of the eThekwini Neighbourhood Watch in Inanda were shot and killed allegedly by a gang that is terrorising the community.
Avela Nompahla, 37, was gunned down at a local soccer ground, while Mzwandile Mbambo, 60, was shot and killed at his home, a few metres away from the ground.
In Waterloo, Verulam, Majola, whose first name was not given, was shot and killed by unknown assailants while on patrol duty. Majola ensured that community members had a safe passage to the bus station.
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